A travel nurse has taken an assignment at a healthcare facility where nurses assume responsibility for a caseload of patients over a period of time. This type of nursing exemplifies:

A travel nurse has taken an assignment at a healthcare facility where nurses assume responsibility for a caseload of patients over a period of time. This type of nursing exemplifies:

• A. Team nursing
• B. Primary nursing
• C. Functional nursing
• D. Decentralized nursing

Answer: (B)

Continuity of care with one nurse accountable for a defined caseload over time is the hallmark of primary nursing. In this approach, a single nurse plans and directs all aspects of each patient’s care during their stay, coordinates with the rest of the team, and serves as the main point of contact for the patient and family. This fosters consistent, holistic care and a strong nurse–patient relationship because the same nurse follows the patient through different phases, conditions, and treatments. The travel nurse scenario—taking responsibility for a group of patients for an extended period—exemplifies this model because the nurse maintains responsibility for the care plan and outcomes across multiple shifts. Other models differ in approach: team nursing assigns care to a team under a lead nurse rather than one primary caregiver; functional nursing groups tasks by specialty rather than by patient; decentralized nursing distributes decision-making authority within the unit rather than centering care on a single caseload-based relationship with patients.

Continuity of care with one nurse accountable for a defined caseload over time is the hallmark of primary nursing. In this approach, a single nurse plans and directs all aspects of each patient’s care during their stay, coordinates with the rest of the team, and serves as the main point of contact for the patient and family. This fosters consistent, holistic care and a strong nurse–patient relationship because the same nurse follows the patient through different phases, conditions, and treatments. The travel nurse scenario—taking responsibility for a group of patients for an extended period—exemplifies this model because the nurse maintains responsibility for the care plan and outcomes across multiple shifts. Other models differ in approach: team nursing assigns care to a team under a lead nurse rather than one primary caregiver; functional nursing groups tasks by specialty rather than by patient; decentralized nursing distributes decision-making authority within the unit rather than centering care on a single caseload-based relationship with patients.